Keep warm this winter with aluminium windows and doors

The UK weather is becoming more unpredictable than ever. One year we witness blazing heatwaves through the summer months, while the next we barely feel like we’ve had a summer thanks to cloudy days and above average rainfall. We are experiencing warmer temperatures into Autumn 2024, but weather forecasters are predicting a colder than average winter to make up for it.

Forecasts show that colder wetter weather may be coming to the UK later in 2024 and in the early months of 2025 thanks to a developing La Nina event. During La Nina colder sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean can affect the weather conditions across Europe. Although forecasting weather is always difficult, there are currently predictions for an increased chance of colder temperatures and more snow later this winter.

Whatever happens this winter, it is worth being prepared for more extreme weather in the UK, both hot and cold. That means insulating our homes better and windows and doors have a big role to play.

Are aluminium windows and doors cold?

Aluminium is often associated with being too cold in cooler temperatures and too hot in warmer climates because it is a good thermal conductor. But in relation to modern aluminium windows and doors, this is a myth.

Aluminium home improvement products manufactured today include a thermal barrier or thermal break inside the frame to stop the transfer of heat. Different manufacturers construct the barrier slightly differently, but all of them stop the heat transfer and therefore prevent the outer material from becoming too cold in the winter. This is a huge technological advance for aluminium windows and doors that not only stops heat being transferred but also prevents condensation.

How energy efficient can new aluminium home improvements be?

Again, different manufacturers will be able to offer different levels of energy efficiency, but it is possible to buy aluminium windows and doors that carry the highest energy ratings.

When buying new windows and doors it’s a good idea to check the energy rating. The British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) assess the energy rating of fenestration products and gives them a rating between A++ (excellent energy efficiency) and E (not as energy efficient). Home improvement products that have been rated in this way will carry a little sticker to let you know it has been assessed and the rating it has achieved. At the moment UK Building Regulations state that windows must achieve a Window Energy Rating (WER) label of ‘B’ or above, or an equivalent U-Value of 1.6W/m2K, while doors must carry a Door Energy Rating (DER) label of C, or an equivalent U-Value of 1.4W/m2K. These regulations could be subject to change as we get nearer to the 2050 deadline for zero carbon emissions.

Aluminium windows and doors are more than capable of meeting this level of energy efficiency thanks to the technological advances the products have undergone. The Reynaers at Home SL 68 Slim Frame aluminium windows for example, can already achieve an A++ rating. This not only allows you to start saving on expensive fuel bills immediately after installation, but also ensures the windows are future proof.

Where to buy the best aluminium windows and doors

Buying the right home improvement products for your home is not only about finding the right windows and doors with the best energy rating, but also about working with an installer that you can trust to fit your new windows and doors with the care and precision needed. Energy efficient products won’t keep the cold out if they’re not fitted properly.

Reynaers at Home understands the importance of quality workmanship, as well as product excellence, which is why we have established a network of Reynaers at Home installers that all work to a strict code of conduct and deliver superior service to match our high standards. Find your local dealer today to start your journey to a warm home this winter.